Latest On Former ‘Baby Bi-Lo’ Development Plans in Greenville
At the heart of downtown Greenville in the North Main neighborhood sits the former “Baby Bi-Lo” site. The 505 N. Main Street shopping center has been largely vacant since the grocery store closed in 2013. Numerous suggestions for the three-acre property since then have not come to fruition. The site could soon see revitalization if the plans proposed by Acre Management, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, are accepted.
Two Development Ideas Presented
Acre Management debuted two concepts for the site at the city’s project preview meeting held on June 25. The initial project idea involves a mixed-use development which would entail two edifices, one being four-stories and the other five-stories. This plan includes roughly 300 residential units along with commercial tenant spaces.
Another concept involves constructing 60 townhomes on the plot of land, a more residential centered plan. Bret Hewett, Acre’s director of acquisitions, explained that the current zoning does not allow for a suitable project. Thus, rezoning is needed to explore additional development options.
Rezoning Proposal
Currently, the site is zoned MX-2 and MX-3, allowing for the development of a two-story or three-story building respectively. However, if the developers take advantage of the affordable housing incentive in the development code, structures could potentially be raised to four or five stories. This incentive permits developers to add height and density to projects with at least 15% affordable units.
The newly proposed zoning for the site is MX-5 which permits a five-story building. Hewett stated that the goal for the site is to provide a transitional area linking the city’s central business district with the North Main neighborhood.
There were concerns about the development potentially escalating to seven stories if affordable housing incentives were used, voiced by some residents during the meeting. Hewett assured them that this isn’t the case as it wouldn’t be a financially viable project.
The rezoning request is set to go before the city’s Planning Commission for a public hearing tentatively on Aug. 1, giving the residents a chance to voice their opinions and ask any questions about the proposed plans.
The Challenge Of Developing The Former ‘Baby Bi-Lo’ Site
Aside from rezoning hurdles, several other challenges are presented in developing the ‘Baby Bi-Lo’ site. A sanitary and stormwater main easement slicing through the property’s center puts a barrier to developers, as no construction is allowed atop the easement. According to Hewett, a developer would need to erect a building on both the north and south side of the easement. He also described an additional challenge of the soil under the shopping center, which would need to be replaced for larger construction.
In conclusion, the former ‘Baby Bi-Lo’ site presents various developmental opportunities as well as challenges. The future of the site will largely depend on the decision surrounding the rezoning request and ultimately, the strongly anticipated public hearing on Aug. 1.
